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> One does not seriously attack the expertise of a scientist using the undefined phrase "butt-head." But one does seriously attack the expertise of a scientist
by kloch 4y ago
> One does not seriously attack the expertise of a scientist using the undefined phrase "butt-head."
But one does seriously attack the expertise of a scientist using the undefined phrases "crackpot" or "crank", which are not very far from "butt-head"
So while I think the ruling was correct in that the average person would not take the insult seriously, I can see why Sagan might have taken it seriously.
- NateEag 4y agoIMO, "crackpot" and "crank" are quite far from "butthead". The first two communicate precisely what you've described, and are a significant charge to level at a scientist. The last is a playground insult, meaning only "I don't like you" or "I think you're mean."